Bicolano Jerrick’s “calling” in Santo Domingo, Albay leads to priesthood in Catalonia, Spain

by Joey Natividad
Senior Editor

Many are called, but few are chosen.

Jerrick Rodriguez Banzuela, then a very young boy, of Sto. Domingo, Albay Province, Philippines had this initial feeling of “angst”, but later, he found out that it was a “calling”.

Still a kid then, Jerrick accompanied the elders who carried the “santo” or religious image, visiting house to house for the traditional prayers among the religious, conservative neighborhood of Santo Domingo, a town deep in Roman Catholic tradition.

These were his formative years. Later, Jerrick entered the Minor Seminary in nearby Tabaco City, spending years of religious study, and had moved to Cavite for higher studies at the Major Seminary.

At Cavite, he got word that a Seminary at Catalonia, Spain was open for young men for the priesthood. Catalonia is an independent autonomous region in Spain.

He went to Catalonia and now, years after, Jerrick will be ordained as priest on June 24, 2022, at the Diocese of La Seu D’ Urgell in Catalonia.

Upon hearing the news, Gilbert Bea informed Bicol Express News about Reverend Jerrick”s ordaination into the priesthood, being the first Bicolano priest to be ordained in Catalonia, Spain.

“I would like to share with you the good news of having the first Filipino to be ordained under the Diocese of La Seu D’ Urgell in Catalonia, Spain. He is Rev. Jerrick Rodriguez Banzuela from Sto. Domingo, Albay. He will be ordained as a priest this coming June 24, 2022, at 5:30 in the afternoon here in Spain,” Bea said, in his short note with an attached link of Jerrick’s interview with a Filipino vlog in Spain.

Basing on his short note, Bea is based in Spain, possibly active in the Filipino community.

Attached is the link to Rev. Jerrick’s interview.